Deuteronomy Section 4 - Moses Says Goodbye

Moses Says Goodbye Part 1

Background from the OT: Deuteronomy chapters 32

The Song Of Moses

actually a misnomer -- Moses didn't write the song, God did

think of the impact of that -- you can actually read verbatim the words and thoughts of Almighty God.

God tells Moses and Joshua why He's giving them this song (31:14-30)

It's time for Moses to die, and for Joshua to take charge

Even after all they've heard and seen, the Israelites will still backslide and follow idols

The song will serve as a testimony to God's warnings and a reminder of the reasons of their inevitable sufferings

The song is structured into three main parts

God's special love for His people (verses 1 - 14)

God hides His face from their evil ways (verses 15 - 26)

God's vengeance for His own name's sake (verses 27 - 43)

God's special love for His people (32:1-14)

God's doctrine will completely cover the earth and heavens (v1-3)

The Rock is perfect, but the people have corrupted themselves (v4-6)

Remember the days of old (v5-10)

Interesting sidenote on verse 8: the Dead Sea Scrolls renders a translation of this verse which could be interpreted as "When the Most High assigned lands to the nations, when he divided up the human race, he established the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of angelic beings." In other words it might imply that God assigned supervising angels to the major population groups of the world.

God was protective, like an eagle caring for its young (v11-14)

Compare the contrast between Jeremiah 48:40 and Isaiah 40:31

God hides His face from their evil ways (32:15-26)

Same old story…in their prosperity they forgot all about God (v15-18)

He says "as you have done to Me, I shall do to you" (v19-21)

The effects of God's wrath (v22-26)

God's vengeance for His own name's sake (32:27-43)

God won't let the Enemy take credit for His judgements (v27-38)

God proclaims His own majesty and mercy (v39-43)

Moses wraps it up (32:44-52)

Set your hearts on God's word, it's as important as life itself

Moses is told to go up to Mt Nebo to die. God allows him to see the Promised Land, but not to enter in, due to his sin at Kadesh. Sin carries consequences that we may not reap until the ends of our lives.

Moses Says Goodbye Part 2

Background from the OT: Deuteronomy chapters 33 - 34

Moses - the Man of God - blesses the tribes (ch 33)

His last recorded words before his death

One by one, he recited a blessing for each of the tribes

Refer to the attachment to compare this passage to the blessings of Jacob prior to his death

Note that Moses doesn't even mention Simeon. Jacob is said to have predicted the disappearance of the tribe of Simeon and Moses would not have wanted to usurp that.

Note the prophecy of the coming Messiah in Jacob's blessing to Judah, Gen 49:10

Joseph's tribe is referred to in both cases as a "prince among his brothers" The tribe of Joseph is actually two separate clans, descendents of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Moses - the Servant of the Lord - Dies (ch 34)

Moses heads up to Nebo, a high point on a ridge running north to south called Pisgah (means "rugged ridge") The elevation is about 2600 feet.

From there he can see all of the Promised Land

God once again affirms that this is the land He has given to the descendents of Abraham

Moses' epithet: "the Servant of the Lord"

No one but God knows where his body was buried

He died at the age of 120, in good health.

33 days later, the children of Israel crossed the Jordan and began the inhabitation of Canaan